The CCHS junior began playing basketball in high-powered AAU programs that put him on track to become a major DI recruit.

Central Catholic basketball player Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman is named after one of the most famous athletes in sports history, someone who, in his glory, wasn't afraid to speak his mind about any topic.

But this Muhammad Ali is much more soft-spoken, choosing to let his actions speak for him on the court, and for three seasons, Abdur-Rahkman's performance has spoken volumes about his ability and potential.

As a freshman and sophomore, Abdur-Rahkman was a Pennsylvania all-state selection.

This year, after helping to lead the Vikings to a 24-4 record, their third straight District 11 Class 3A title, an appearance in the Lehigh Valley Conference tournament for the first time since 2008 and a No. 10 ranking among 3A teams in the state, he is The Morning Call's 2012-13 player of the year.

Just don't expect him to shout the news from the top of the balcony at Rockne Hall. It's not his style.

"Muhammad is a very cerebral kid," Dawub Abdur-Rahkman, his father, said. "He is what I'd call an observer. He's inclined to watch first before he talks. He is the kind of kid who will determine what the environment is like, what's going on around him, and then try to find his way."

Muhammad agrees that he chooses to lay back and observe before opening up to others.

"When I'm with my friends, I am more outgoing, more outspoken," he said. "But if I don't really know you, I am laid back and I observe and see what you're like before I open up to you."

That is often how Abdur-Rahkman's performance unfurls during a game. He can start slow in certain games, more concerned about getting his teammates involved and observing what the opponent is trying to do.

Then he will take off and assert his will.

In what proved to be a double-overtime win over Easton on Jan. 10, Abdur-Rahkman didn't score in the first half but finished with 25 points.

A couple of days later against Bangor, he scored all 28 of his points after intermission to rally the Vikings to a win over the eventual Colonial League champions.

"It is a fine line because it's better to get everybody else involved and get them going first," he said. "But if everybody is not going, then it's time to take over and try to win the game. And then as time goes on and other people start to hit shots, it's even better. Assists, steals, rebounds and defense are more important sometimes because those things get everybody else involved."

The 6-foot-4 junior swingman averaged 21 points, four assists and six rebounds per game. He shot 61 percent from the field and 73 percent from the foul line.

With one more high school season to go, he has more than 1,400 points and figures to add his name to the banners hanging at Rockne Hall that show the names of some of the greatest players in Lehigh Valley basketball history.

"At practice, I do look up there and see those names and realize how good those players were," he said. "It makes me practice and play harder to be one of them."

Abdur-Rahkman is happy to be at Central, happy to be back in Allentown after spending several years living with his father on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Dawub Abdur-Rahkman was an assistant coach at Howard.

And while he was coaching college players, Dawub Abdur-Rahkman was grooming his own son to become a major college recruit by placing him in high-powered AAU programs such as the D.C. Warriors and D.C. Assault.

Shahad Abdur-Rahkman, Dawub's older son by 14 years, had a solid career at Allen High School and East Stroudsburg University, but Dawub led Muhammad down a different path.

"The environment and circumstances were different for Muhammad to get his foundation in the game of basketball," his father said. "Shahad grew up in Allentown. Muhammad started off playing basketball at a high level in D.C. He was 9 years old when he started. And playing at a high level, and being coached at a high level, that was the difference. There were high expectations and a high level of competition.

"From the perspective of learning and being in the basketball business for so long myself, I wanted to do a lot of things differently with Muhammad than I did with Shahad."

Muhammad understands the high expectations his father has for him and embraces them.

"He keeps pushing me and doesn't want me to get complacent," Muhammad said. "I still feel I can work on everything … shooting, passing, rebounding … just getting smarter about the game."

He is already on the radar of many prominent Division I programs, including Saint Joseph's, VCU and Xavier. He wants to visit interested schools and do as much research as possible before making his decision, preferably before the 2013-14 season begins.

He will have an extensive AAU schedule throughout the spring and summer, playing for a Nike-sponsored team that will compete in major tournaments throughout the country, including Los Angeles.

Every year since he arrived at CCHS, rumors have arisen that have Muhammad is leaving the school, but father and son said they are pleased with CCHS, especially with the teachers and academic program.

"He has a very good rapport with everybody and he now has many friends here," Dawub Abdur-Rahkman said. "As far as we know, he'll be back next year as a senior. One of the things about this business is that as you get to a certain level, opportunities arise. There could be an opportunity for him to play at a certain level with certain people. We might want to consider that. Nothing is out of consideration."

"But at this point, we have not been approached by anybody. It would be great if he stayed here, and as far as we know now, that's what is going to happen."